G.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraByJohn MulderigSource:Catholic News Service

Channing Tatum and Marlon Wayans star in a scene from the movie "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra."

Special effects are expensive and the
lives of the extras are cheap in "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"
(Paramount/Spyglass), director Stephen Sommers' slick but uninvolving action
excursion. Though developed from a line of Hasbro toys, the relentless—if
almost entirely bloodless—action violence of this futuristic combat fantasy
makes it unsuitable for kids.

The convoluted and flimsy plot centers on
the machinations of evil Scottish arms dealer McCullen (Christopher Eccleston),
who is bent—as so many screen fiends seem to be—on world domination. Supplying
him with the necessary technology is a disfigured mad-scientist-type known as
the Doctor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

Out to thwart these two is an elite
international military force, known as G.I. Joe. Dennis Quaid is wasted in the
role of their leader, General Hawk.

Joining the good guys—and thus getting to
try out all their fancy gadgetry—are gifted special forces operatives and
buddies Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans).

A series of flashbacks reveals that
McCullen's current moll (Sienna Miller), now known as the Baroness, is Duke's
ex-fiancee, Ana. Other peeks at the past feature the questionable spectacle of
two preteen boys engaged in a vicious kung-fu rivalry with ultimately fatal
side effects.

The film contains pervasive action
violence, brief gore, at least two uses of profanity and about a dozen crude or
crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is
A-III—adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13—parents
strongly cautioned; some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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Mulderig is on the staff of the Office
for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.